Anticonvulsant effect of phytol in a pilocarpine model in mice

Investigating the pharmacological potential of phytol on experimental models of gastric ulcer in rats

Phytol is a diterpene constituent of many essential oils, belonging to the group of unsaturated acyclic alcohols. Although phytol possesses antimycobacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, no reports of a gastrointestinal action are available from the literature. Due to the well-known shortcomings of classical anti-ulcer drugs (e.g. side effects or relapses), natural products may offer an attractive alternative. In this study, a potential gastroprotective activity of phytol was evaluated using acute and chronic ulcer models in rats. Phytol 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg, administered orally 1 h prior to induction of gastric lesions by absolute ethanol, inhibited the lesion area by 96, 90 and 95%, respectively. When lesions were induced by ischemia and reperfusion, phytol 12.5 and 25 mg/kg per os decreased the lesion areas by 89 and 46%, respectively. In the third acute ulcer model (lesions induced by ibuprofen), phytol 12.5 mg/kg reduced the lesion area by 55%. Phytol restored the decreased level of reduced glutathione, the increased levels of myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde and the decreased levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase in rats with gastric ulcer induced by ethanol to levels obtained in vehicle group. Finally, in a chronic model in which gastric ulcer was induced by acetic acid directly instilled into the stomach, phytol administered orally over a time period of 7 days at 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg reduced lesion areas by 84, 81, 83 and 68%. Our data suggest a gastroprotective and cicatrizing effect of phytol, possibly associated with its antioxidant effect.

Phytol exerts sedative-like effects and modulates the diazepam and flumazenil's action, possibly through the GABAA receptor interaction pathway

This study aimed at the evaluation of the sedative effect of phytol (PHY) with possible molecular mechanisms through in vivo and in silico studies. For this, adult male mice were randomly divided into six individual groups, namely control (vehicle), two standards (DZP: diazepam at 2 m/kg, FLU: flumazenil at 0.1 mg/kg), three test groups (PHY at 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg), and three combined groups with the DZP-2 and/or FLU-0.1 with PHY-75 mg/kg. After thirty minutes, each animal was treated with thiopental sodium (TS) at 40 mg/kg to produce sedation and observed for latency and duration of sleep up to 4 h. In silico studies were performed with the 6X3X protein of the GABAA receptor α1 and β2 subunits. The results demonstrate that PHY dose-dependently enhanced sleep duration in animals. However, it produced an insignificant sleep duration compared to the control and standard groups. It also significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the latency and increased the duration of sleep with DZP-2, while reducing these parameters with FLU-0.1. In in silico studies, DZP and FLU exhibited binding affinities with 6X3X by -6.8 and -6.9 kcal/mol, respectively, while PHY exhibited -6.9 kcal/mol. Taken together, PHY may exert a sedative-like effect in TS-induced sleeping mice and modulate the effects of DZP and FLU, possibly through interacting with the 6X3X protein of the GABAA receptor. PHY may be one of the good candidates for the management of sleep disturbances, such as insomnia.

Prospecting of the Antioxidant Activity from Extracts Obtained from Chañar (Geoffroea decorticans) Seeds Evaluated In Vitro and In Vivo Using the Tenebrio molitor Model

Geoffroea decorticans, commonly known as Chañar, is a native Chilean plant widely used in folk medicine for its expectorant, pain relief, and antinociceptive properties. This study explored the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and protective effects of its ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (EA) seed extracts against oxidative stress induced by copper sulfate, using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the extracts. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) identified significant components such as phytol, alpha-tocopherol, vitexin, and rutin, with the EE being particularly rich in phytol and vitexin. Antioxidant assays-measuring the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging, and copper and iron chelation-confirmed their potent antioxidant capabilities. Both extracts were non-cytotoxic and provided protection against CuSO4-induced oxidative stress in the 3T3 cell line. Additionally, the use of Tenebrio molitor as an invertebrate model underscored the extracts' antioxidant and protective potentials, especially that of the EE. In conclusion, this study highlights the significant antioxidant and protective properties of Chañar seed extracts, particularly the ethanolic extract, in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Targeting Amyloids with Coated Nanoparticles: A Review on Potential Combinations of Nanoparticles and Bio-Compatible Coatings

Amyloidosis is the major cause of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's where the misfolding and deposition of a previously functional protein make it inept for carrying out its function. The genesis of amyloid fibril formation and the strategies to inhibit it have been studied extensively, although some parts of this puzzle still remain unfathomable to date. Many classes of molecules have been explored as potential drugs in vitro, but their inability to work in vivo by crossing the blood-brain-barrier has made them an inadequate treatment option. In this regard, nanoparticles (NPs) have turned out to be an exciting alternative because they could overcome many drawbacks of previously studied molecules and provide advantages, such as, greater bioavailability of molecules and target-specific delivery of drugs. In this paper, we present an overview on several coated NPs which have shown promising efficiency in inhibiting fibril formation. A hundred and thirty papers published in the past two decades have been comprehensively reviewed, which majorly encompass NPs comprising different materials like gold, silver, iron-oxide, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polymeric NP, etc., which are coated with various molecules of predominantly natural origin, such as different types of amino acids, peptides, curcumin, drugs, catechin, etc. We hope that this review will shed light on the advancement of symbiotic amalgamation of NPs with molecules from natural sources and will inspire further research on the tremendous therapeutic potential of these combinations for many amyloid-related diseases.

Treating Epilepsy with Natural Products: Nonsense or Possibility?

Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures that can lead to uncontrollable muscle twitching, changes in sensitivity to sensory perceptions, and disorders of consciousness. Although modern medicine has effective antiepileptic drugs, the need for accessible and cost-effective medication is urgent, and products derived from plants could offer a solution. For this review, we have focused on natural compounds that have shown anticonvulsant activity in in vivo models of epilepsy at relevant doses. In some cases, the effects have been confirmed by clinical data. The results of our search are summarized in tables according to their molecular targets. We have critically evaluated the data we present, identified the most promising therapeutic candidates, and discussed these in the text. Their perspectives are supported by both pharmacokinetic properties and potential interactions. This review is intended to serve as a basis for future research into epilepsy and related disorders.

Anticancer effects of phytol against Sarcoma (S-180) and Human Leukemic (HL-60) cancer cells

Phytol (Pyt), a diterpenoid, possesses many important bioactivities. This study evaluates the anticancer effects of Pyt on sarcoma 180 (S-180) and human leukemia (HL-60) cell lines. For this purpose, cells were treated with Pyt (4.72, 7.08, or 14.16 μM) and a cell viability assay was performed. Additionally, the alkaline comet assay and micronucleus test with cytokinesis were also performed using doxorubicin (6 μM) and hydrogen peroxide (10 mM) as positive controls and stressors, respectively. Results revealed that Pyt significantly reduced the viability and rate of division in S-180 and HL-60 cells with IC50 values of 18.98 ± 3.79 and 1.17 ± 0.34 μM, respectively. Pyt at 14.16 μM exerted aneugenic and/or clastogenic effects in S-180 and HL-60 cells, where the number of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities (e.g., nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds) were frequently observed. Moreover, Pyt at all concentrations induced apoptosis and showed necrosis at 14.16 μM, suggesting its anticancer effects on the tested cancer cell lines. Taken together, Pyt showed promising anticancer effects, possibly through inducing apoptosis and necrosis mechanisms, and it exerted aneugenic and/or clastogenic effects on the S-180 and HL-60 cell lines.

Utilizing Andrographis paniculata leaves and roots by effective usage of the bioactive andrographolide and its nanodelivery: investigation of antikindling and antioxidant activities through in silico and in vivo studies

To valorise the bioactive constituents abundant in leaves and other parts of medicinal plants with the objective to minimize the plant-based wastes, this study was undertaken. The main bioactive constituent of Andrographis paniculata, an Asian medicinal plant, is andrographolide (AG, a diterpenoid), which has shown promising results in the treatment of neurodegenerative illnesses. Continuous electrical activity in the brain is a hallmark of the abnormal neurological conditions such as epilepsy (EY). This can lead to neurological sequelae. In this study, we used GSE28674 as a microarray expression profiling dataset to identify DEGs associated with andrographolide and those with fold changes >1 and p-value <0.05 GEO2R. We obtained eight DEG datasets (two up and six down). There was marked enrichment under various Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) terms for these DEGs (DUSP10, FN1, AR, PRKCE, CA12, RBP4, GABRG2, and GABRA2). Synaptic vesicles and plasma membranes were the predominant sites of DEG expression. AG acts as an antiepileptic agent by upregulating GABA levels. The low bioavailability of AG is a significant limitation of its application. To control these limitations, andrographolide nanoparticles (AGNPs) were prepared and their neuroprotective effect against pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindling epilepsy was investigated using network pharmacology (NP) and docking studies to evaluate the antiepileptic multi-target mechanisms of AG. Andrographolide is associated with eight targets in the treatment of epilepsy. Nicotine addiction, GABAergic synapse, and morphine addiction were mainly related to epilepsy, according to KEGG pathway enrichment analysis (p < 0.05). A docking study showed that andrographolide interacted with the key targets. AG regulates epilepsy and exerts its therapeutic effects by stimulating GABA production. Rats received 80 mg/kg body weight of AG and AGNP, phenytoin and PTZ (30 mg/kg i.p. injection on alternate days), brain MDA, SOD, GSH, GABAand histological changes of hippocampus and cortex were observed. PTZ injected rats showed significantly (^***p < 0.001) increased kindling behavior, increased MDA, decreased GSH, SOD, GABA activities, compared with normal rats, while treatment AGNPs significantly reduced kindling score and reversed oxidative damage. Finally, we conclude that the leaves and roots of A. Paniculata can be effectively utilized for its major bioactive constituent, andrographolide as a potent anti-epileptic agent. Furthermore, the findings of novel nanotherapeutic approach claim that nano-andrographolide can be successfully in the management of kindling seizures and neurodegenerative disorders.

Phytochemical and Biological Investigation of an Indigenous Plant of Bangladesh, Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr.: Drug Discovery from Nature

Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. (Family: Asteraceae) is a tropical Asian medicinal plant found in Thailand, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. It has long been utilized to treat a variety of health concerns in numerous countries around the world, such as renal discomfort, constipation, diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, and hypertension. The chemical investigation resulted in the isolation and characterization of six compounds from the methanol (MeOH) extract of the leaves of Gynura procumbens, which were identified as phytol (1), lupeol (2), stigmasterol (3), friedelanol acetate (4), β-amyrin (5), and a mixture of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol (6). In-depth investigations of the high-resolution ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data from the isolated compounds, along with comparisons to previously published data, were used to clarify their structures. Among these, the occurrence of Compounds 1 and 4 in this plant are reported for the first time. The crude methanolic extract (CME) and its different partitionates, i.e., petroleum ether (PESF), chloroform (CSF), ethyl acetate (EASF), and aqueous (AQSF) soluble fractions, were subjected to antioxidant, cytotoxic, thrombolytic, and anti-diabetic activities. In a DPPH free radical scavenging assay, EASF showed the maximum activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 10.78 µg/mL. On the other hand, CSF displayed the highest cytotoxic effect with an LC₅₀ value of 1.94 µg/mL compared to 0.464 µg/mL for vincristine sulphate. In a thrombolytic assay, the crude methanolic extract exhibited the highest activity (63.77%) compared to standard streptokinase (70.78%). During the assay for anti-diabetic activity, the PESF showed 70.37% of glucose-lowering activity, where standard glibenclamide showed 63.24% of glucose-reducing activity.

Anti-Atopic Dermatitis Effects of Abietic Acid Isolated from Rosin under Condition Optimized by Response Surface Methodology in DNCB-Spread BALB/c Mice

Abietic acid (AA) is known to have beneficial effects on inflammation, photoaging, osteoporosis, cancer, and obesity; however, its efficacy on atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been reported. We investigated the anti-AD effects of AA, which was newly isolated from rosin, in an AD model. To achieve this, AA was isolated from rosin under conditions optimized by response surface methodology (RSM), and its effects on cell death, iNOS-induced COX-2 mediated pathway, inflammatory cytokine transcription, and the histopathological skin structure were analyzed in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-treated BALB/c mice after treatment with AA for 4 weeks. AA was isolated and purified through isomerization and reaction-crystallization under the condition (HCl, 2.49 mL; reflux extraction time, 61.7 min; ethanolamine, 7.35 mL) established by RSM, resulting in AA with a purity and extraction yield of 99.33% and 58.61%, respectively. AA exhibited high scavenging activity against DPPH, ABTS, and NO radicals as well as hyaluronidase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-inflammatory effects of AA were verified in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages through amelioration of the inflammatory response, including NO production, iNOS-induced COX-2 mediated pathway activation, and cytokine transcription. In the DNCB-treated AD model, the skin phenotypes, dermatitis score, immune organ weight, and IgE concentration were significantly ameliorated in the AA cream (AAC)-spread groups compared to the vehicle-spread group. In addition, AAC spread ameliorated DNCB-induced deterioration of skin histopathological structure through the recovery of the thickness of the dermis and epidermis and the number of mast cells. Furthermore, activation of the iNOS-induced COX-2 mediated pathway and increased inflammatory cytokine transcription were ameliorated in the skin of the DNCB+AAC-treated group. Taken together, these results indicate that AA, newly isolated from rosin, exhibits anti-AD effects in DNCB-treated AD models, and has the potential to be developed as a treatment option for AD-related diseases.

Isolation and Characterization of One New Natural Compound with Other Potential Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Glycosmis cyanocarpa (Blume) Spreng. (Family: Rutaceae)

Glycosmis cyanocarpa (Blume) Spreng is a plant in the Rutaceae family and a species in the Glycosmis genus that has received little attention. Therefore, this research aimed to report the chemical and biological analysis of Glycosmis cyanocarpa (Blume) Spreng. The chemical analysis involved the isolation and characterization of secondary metabolites through an extensive chromatographic study, and the structures of these metabolites were elucidated on the basis of a detailed analysis of NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data and by comparison with those of related compounds reported in the literature. Different partitions of the crude ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract were evaluated for antioxidant, cytotoxic, and thrombolytic potentials. In chemical analysis, one new phenyl acetate derivative, namely 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadec-2-en-1-yl 2-phenylacetate (1), along with four known compounds N-methyl-3-(methylthio)-N-(2-phenylacetyl) acrylamide (2), penangin (3), β-Caryophyllene oxide (4), and acyclic diterpene-phytol (5) were isolated for the first time from the stem and leaf of the plant. The ethyl acetate fraction showed significant free radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 11.536 µg/mL compared to standard ascorbic acid (4.816 µg/mL). In the thrombolytic assay, the dichloromethane fraction showed the maximum thrombolytic activity of 16.42% but was still insignificant compared to the standard streptokinase (65.98%). Finally, in a brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the LC₅₀ values of dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions were found to be 0.687 µg/mL, 0.805 µg/mL, and 0.982 µg/mL which are significant compared to the standard vincristine sulfate of 0.272 µg/mL.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha); current understanding and future prospect as a potential drug candidate

Cancer and Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the most dreadful diseases to cure and chemotherapy has found a prime place in cancerous treatments while as different strategies have been tested in neurodegenerative diseases as well. However, due to adverse shortcomings like the resistance of cancerous cells and inefficiency in neurodegenerative disease, plant sources have always found a prime importance in medicinal use for decades, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (W. somnifera) is a well-known plant with medicinal use reported for centuries. It is commonly known as winter cherry or ashwagandha and is a prime source of pharmaceutically active compounds withanolides. In recent years research is being carried in understanding the extensive role of W. somnifera in cancer and neurological disorders. W. somnifera has been reported to be beneficial in DNA repair mechanisms; it is known for its cellular repairing properties and helps to prevent the apoptosis of normal cells. This review summarizes the potential properties and medicinal benefits of W. somnifera especially in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Available data suggest that W. somnifera is effective in controlling disease progressions and could be a potential therapeutic target benefiting human health status. The current review also discusses the traditional medicinal applications of W. somnifera, the experimental evidence supporting its therapeutical potential as well as obstacles that necessitate being overcome for W. somnifera to be evaluated as a curative agent in humans.

Secondary Terpenes in Cannabis sativa L.: Synthesis and Synergy

Cannabis is a complex biosynthetic plant, with a long history of medicinal use. While cannabinoids have received the majority of the attention for their psychoactive and pharmacological activities, cannabis produces a diverse array of phytochemicals, such as terpenes. These compounds are known to play a role in the aroma and flavor of cannabis but are potent biologically active molecules that exert effects on infectious as well as chronic diseases. Furthermore, terpenes have the potential to play important roles, such as synergistic and/or entourage compounds that modulate the activity of the cannabinoids. This review highlights the diversity and bioactivities of terpenes in cannabis, especially minor or secondary terpenes that are less concentrated in cannabis on a by-mass basis. We also explore the question of the entourage effect in cannabis, which studies to date have supported or refuted the concept of synergy in cannabis, and where synergy experimentation is headed, to better understand the interplay between phytochemicals within Cannabis sativa L.

Repellency, contact toxicity, and anti-oviposition effects of three ethanol-extracted plant essential oils on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

There are more than 1200 species of whiteflies found across the globe. Due to the high level of resistance of whitefly against synthetic insecticides, alternate pest management measures have their significance. Plant essential oils (EOs) affect insect pests in many ways, such as via stimulatory, deterrent, toxic, and hormonal effects. This study was designed to determine the repellency of EOs, toxicity, and oviposition deterrent activities of Allium ascalonicum, Cinnamomum camphora, and Mentha haplocalyx against adult whiteflies. In repellency determination experiments, a single tomato plant was treated with 10 ml of ethanol-extracted EO with 1000 ppm concentration. Results showed that C. camphora EO was the most repellent for whitefly compared to M. haplocalyx and A. ascalonicum. The oviposition deterrent experiments revealed that C. camphora has the highest oviposition deterrent effect, followed by M. haplocalyx and A. ascalonicum. A single plant treatment method was used to assess the contact toxicity of three EOs against whitefly after 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure. The results revealed that C. camphora is more toxic to whitefly than M. haplocalyx and A. ascalonicum. After determining the antagonistic effects of these EOs, the oils were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify the chemical components. It can be concluded that C. camphora is the most effective oil EO in terms of toxicity, repellence, and oviposition deterrence, followed by M. haplocalyx and A. ascalonicum under greenhouse conditions. Our results introduce some new eco-friendly plant EOs to control whiteflies.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Gracilaria crassa leaf extract and their ecotoxicological potential: Issues to be considered

The use of vegetal species for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) biosynthesis can constitute an alternative to replacing the extensive use of several hazardous chemicals commonly used during NPs synthesis and, therefore, can reduce biological impacts induced by the release of these products into the natural environment. However, the "green nanoparticles" and/or "eco-friendly nanoparticles" label does not ensure that biosynthesized NPs are harmless to non-target organisms. Thus, we aimed to synthesize AuNPs from seaweed Gracilaria crassa aqueous extract through an eco-friendly, fast, one-pot synthetic route. The formation of spherical, stable, polycrystalline NPs with a diameter of 32.0 nm ± 4.0 nm (mean ±SEM) was demonstrated by UV-vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction measurement, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. In addition, different phytocomponents were identified in the biosynthesized AuNPs, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). However, both G. crassa aqueous extract and the biosynthesized AuNPs showed high ecotoxicity in Anopheles stephensi larvae exposed to different concentrations. Therefore, our study supports the potential of seaweed G. crassa as a raw material source for AuNPs biosynthesis while also shedding light on its ecotoxicological potential, which necessitates consideration of its risk to aquatic biota.

Emerging Promise of Phytochemicals in Ameliorating Neurological Disorders

BACKGROUND

The field of medicine and synthetic drug development have advanced rapidly over the past few decades. However, research on alternative medicine such as phytochemicals cannot be ignored. The main reason for prominent curiosity about phytochemicals stems from the belief that usage of natural compounds is safer and has lesser detrimental side effects.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present review was to discuss in detail with several phytochemicals that have been studied or are being studied in the context of various neurological disorders including depression, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and even neuroinflammatory disorders such as encephalitis.

METHODS

The potential role of phytochemicals in the treatment or management of symptoms associated with neurological disorders have been included in this article. All data included in this paper has been pooled from various databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer and Wiley Online Library.

RESULTS

Phytochemicals have been widely studied for their therapeutic properties associated with neurological disorders. Using various experimental techniques for both in vivo and in vitro experiments, studies have shown that phytochemicals do have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities which play major roles in the treatment of neurological diseases.

CONCLUSION

Even though there has been compelling evidence of the therapeutic role of phytochemicals, further research is still required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these medicines. Using previously published papers as foundation for additional research such as preclinical studies and clinical trials, phytochemicals can become a safer alternative to synthetic drugs for treating a spectrum of neurological diseases.

Bio-intervention phyto-based material for raw goatskin preservation: a cleaner-sustainable approach

The regular practice of using sodium chloride to preserve raw animal skin triggers increasing salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) in the surface and groundwater during rehydration soaking operations. The process disrupts the lives of animals, plants, and human beings. This paper is focused on the phyto-based short-term preservation of goatskin to reduce salinity in tannery soaking operations. The indigenous Persicaria hydropiper leaf was investigated to assess the preservation of animal skin to diminish salinity and TDS of tannery soaking wastewater. Methanol-extracted leaf was characterized by GC-MS and FTIR for chemical composition analysis and affiliated functional groups. Fresh goatskins were preserved at the preliminary, laboratory, and pilot-scale scenarios to establish the best possible mixture and monitor the moisture and nitrogen content, shrinkage temperature, microorganism analysis, and pollution load at each level. The processed leathers derived from the preserved skins with an optimal mixture of 10% leaf paste with 8% salt and conventional 50% salt were tested for their physical strength. Finally, the modification in fiber structure due to the varieties of preserving chemicals was evaluated through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and detected insignificant variation of leather fibers. The findings reported in this study can be applied to the industrial level and remove certain amounts of salinity and TDS from tannery soaking wastewater.

Citral Effects on the Expression Profile of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Inflammatory Cytokines in Status Epilepticus-Induced Rats Using the Lithium-Pilocarpine Model

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. About one-third of people with epilepsy are refractory to available treatments. Studies suggest that mechanisms linked to the immune response and inflammatory process are related to seizure disorders. Citral is a monoterpene found in the essential oil of several plants, as in Cymbopogon citratus, used to make teas and has been the subject of numerous researches, from which it has been possible to demonstrate antiseizure and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, the effects of citral on status epilepticus (SE) induced by the lithium-pilocarpine model in rats were investigated. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) evaluated latency for seizure development, neuronal death in the hippocampus, and expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β ( IL-1β) and factor nuclear kappa B (NF-κB) genes. The results revealed that citral was able to increase latency until the first seizure, decrease neuronal death 2 h after SE and inhibit overexpression of proinflammatory genes.

Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of the central nervous system. Although epilepsy is common worldwide, approximately 80% of epileptic patients live in the developing countries or those with low-middle income. Up until the second decade of the 20th century, epilepsy was treated mostly by traditional remedies. Today, antiepileptic drugs are used as a general treatment instead to prevent and control epileptic seizures. However, patient access to these drugs is hindered due to the healthcare systems of their countries and a number of other reasons, such as cultural, socio-demographic, and financial poverty. In addition, approximately 30-40%of epileptic patients suffer from refractory epilepsy, additionally, AEDs have adverse side-effects that can lead to treatment failure or reduce the patient's quality of life. Despite recent advances in the treatment of epilepsy, there is still a need for improving medical treatment with a particular focus on efficacy, safety, and accessibility. Since herbal medicines have been used for many centuries around the world for treating epilepsy, it is, therefore, plausible that a rigorous study on herbal medicine and phytochemical components within plants of various species and origin may lead to the discovery of novel AEDs. Nowadays, many medicinal plants used in different cultures and regions of the world have been identified. Most phytochemical components of these plants have been identified and, in some cases, their targets located. Therefore, it is possible that new, effective, and accessible anticonvulsants drugs can be obtained from a medicinal plant.

Endemic Veronica saturejoides Vis. ssp. saturejoides-Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Free Volatile Compounds

Chemical profile and antioxidant activity of the species Veronica saturejoides Vis. ssp. saturejoides (Plantaginaceae)-which is endemic to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro -were investigated. Volatile compounds produced by glandular trichomes (composed of one stalk cell and two elliptically formed head cells according to scanning electron microscope investigation) were isolated from the plants collected in two locations. Additionally, as a part of specialized metabolites, total polyphenols, total tannins, total flavonoids and total phenolic acids were determined spectrophotometrically. In the lipophilic volatile fractions-essential oils, the most abundant compounds identified were hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, caryophyllene oxide and hexadecanoic acid. In total, the class of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and the group of fatty aldehydes, acids and alcoholic compounds dominated in the essential oils. In the hydrophilic volatile fractions-hydrosols, the most abundant compounds identified were trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol, allo-aromadendrene and (E)-caryophyllene. A group of oxygenated monoterpenes and the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons dominated in the hydrosols. Antioxidant activity of essential oils and hydrosols was tested with two methods: 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Essential oils showed higher antioxidant activity than hydrosols and showed similar antioxidant activity to Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil. Obtained results demonstrate that this genus is a potential source of volatiles with antioxidant activity.

Effects of Minor Compounds of Edible Oils on Human Health

Background:

Oils and fats are the densest sources of food energy among food groups. Vegetable oils are constituted predominantly of triglycerides. Due to the importance of edible oils in nutrition, food industry and human health, great attention has been paid to them in recent years. Some minor bioactive constituents in oils include phospholipids, tocols, sterols, carotenoid, chlorophyll, phenols, phylokynon and terpenes.

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to examine beneficial effects of minor compounds in edible oils on human health. Results: Minor compounds of edible oils that we use daily can produce remarkable results in the prevention and treatment of various diseases like diabetes, inflammation, hypertension, cancer, allergy and central nervous system disorders due to their antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation, anti-mutagenic, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic properties, among others.

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that the presence of beneficial minor compounds in oils could have significant impact on the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Therefore, the type of consumed oil can play an important role in human health.

Anti-Epileptic Effects of FABP3 Ligand MF1 through the Benzodiazepine Recognition Site of the GABAA Receptor

Recently, we developed the fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3) ligand MF1 (4-(2-(1-(2-chlorophenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenoxy) butanoic acid) as a therapeutic candidate for α-synucleinopathies. MF1 shows affinity towards γ-aminobutyric acid type-A (GABA_A) receptor, but its effect on the receptor remains unclear. Here, we investigate the pharmacological properties of MF1 on the GABA_A receptor overexpressed in Neuro2A cells. While MF1 (1–100 μm) alone failed to evoke GABA currents, MF1 (1 μm) promoted GABA currents during GABA exposure (1 and 10 μm). MF1-promoted GABA currents were blocked by flumazenil (10 μm) treatment, suggesting that MF1 enhances receptor function via the benzodiazepine recognition site. Acute and chronic administration of MF1 (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly attenuated status epilepticus (SE) and the mortality rate in pilocarpine (PILO: 300 mg/kg, i.p.)-treated mice, similar to diazepam (DZP: 5.0 mg/kg, i.p.). The anti-epileptic effects of DZP (5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and MF1 (0.3 mg/kg, p.o.) were completely abolished by flumazenil (25 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment. Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ: 90 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced seizures in mice were suppressed by DZP (5.0 mg/kg, i.p.), but not MF1. Collectively, this suggests that MF1 is a mild enhancer of the GABA_A receptor and exercises anti-epileptic effects through the receptor’s benzodiazepine recognition site in PILO-induced SE models.

Ruscus hypophyllum L. extracts: chemical composition, antioxidant, anticoagulant, and antimicrobial activity against a wide range of sensitive and multi-resistant bacteria

The aim of this study is to evaluate the polyphenolic and flavonoid contents in the leaves extracts of Ruscus hypophyllum. Antioxidant activity was estimated by α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. The anticoagulant activity of Ruscus extracts was evaluated in vitro, using the prothrombin time (PT) and a PTT-activated partial thromboplastin time tests. The antibacterial activity was tested against large number of important medically and resistant bacteria by the broth dilution method. In this study, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts displayed the highest total phenols contents (74.76 mg EAG/g and 73.89 mg EAG/g, respectively) and flavonoid content 40 and 32.43 mg EC/g, respectively. The GC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate extract confirmed the presence of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and hydrocarbon diterpenes with percentages of 16.41% and 10.72%, respectively, but chloroform extract was rich with, oxygenated monoterpenes, and oxygenated diterpenes, with percentages of 6.19 and 3.27%, respectively. Among tested extracts, ethyl acetate exhibited the best antioxidant and anticoagulant activities. Furthermore, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts showed important antibacterial activity against resistant bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (SARM), Acinetobacter imipenem-resistant (IMP/R), P. aeruginosa imipenem-resistant (IMP/R) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. cloacae (BLSE) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values varying between 0.125 and 0.5 mg/mL.

Phytol, a Chlorophyll Component, Produces Antihyperalgesic, Anti-inflammatory, and Antiarthritic Effects: Possible NFκB Pathway Involvement and Reduced Levels of the Proinflammatory Cytokines TNF-α and IL-6

Phytol is a diterpene constituent of chlorophyll and has been shown to have several pharmacological properties, particularly in relation to the management of painful inflammatory diseases. Arthritis is one of the most common of these inflammatory diseases, mainly affecting the synovial membrane, cartilage, and bone in joints. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, and the NFκB signaling pathway play a pivotal role in arthritis. However, as the mechanisms of action of phytol and its ability to reduce the levels of these cytokines are poorly understood, we decided to investigate its pharmacological effects using a mouse model of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis. Our results showed that phytol was able to inhibit joint swelling and hyperalgesia throughout the whole treatment period. Moreover, phytol reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and proinflammatory cytokine release in synovial fluid and decreased IL-6 production as well as the COX-2 immunocontent in the spinal cord. It also downregulated the p38MAPK and NFκB signaling pathways. Therefore, our findings demonstrated that phytol can be an innovative antiarthritic agent due to its capacity to attenuate inflammatory reactions in joints and the spinal cord, mainly through the modulation of mediators that are key to the establishment of arthritic pain.

Preventive effect of nerolidol on isoproterenol induced myocardial damage in Wistar rats: Evidences from biochemical and histopathological studies

The present study aimed at investigating the protective effects of nerolidol (NRD) against myocardial infarction (MI) induced by isoproterenol (ISO) in Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into five groups, each group consisting of six rats. Group I were treated as control rats, group II received NRD (200 mg/kg b.w.) by intragastric intubation for 21 days, group III received ISO (60 mg/kg b.w) subcutaneously (s.c) for two consecutive days on 22nd and 23rd day, group IV and V received NRD (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w) as in group II and additionally ISO was given for two consecutive days (22nd and 23rd). On 24th day all the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the blood and heart samples were collected. In the present study, ISO-induced myocardial damage was indicated by the changes in body weight, heart weight and the cardiac and hepatic marker enzymes such as creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and troponin T and I (cTnT, cTnI) in the serum. In addition, the levels of lipid peroxidation products such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dines (CD), and lipid hydroperoxides (LHPs) increased significantly in the plasma and heart tissue. Activities of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in erythrocytes and heart tissue and the levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma and heart tissue were decreased in ISO-induced rats. Histopathological observations were also supported with the biochemical parameters. Pretreatment with NRD at different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w) for 21 days prevented the above changes induced by ISO. The 200 mg/kg b.w of NRD was more pronounced than the other dose and brought back all the above parameters near to normalcy.

Therapeutic potential of mistletoe in CNS-related neurological disorders and the chemical composition of Viscum species

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Viscum album L., commonly known as mistletoe, has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat various neurological diseases, including epilepsy, hysteria, nervousness, hysterical psychosis, dizziness and headaches.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this review is to summarize existing evidence confirming the influence of mistletoe on the central nervous system and to investigate the compounds that may be responsible for this activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Available information from studies of various species of the Viscum L. genus was collected from scientific journals, books, and reports via a library and an electronic data search (Elsevier, Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer, Science Direct, ResearchGate, and ACS).

RESULTS

The main chemical constituents of Viscum L. species are viscotoxins, lectins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, sterols, phenylpropanoids, and alkaloids. Various extracts of Viscum album L. showed central nervous system activity, including antiepileptic, sedative, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, antidepressant and antinociceptive effects in mice and rats. Additionally, the extracts increased the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, prevented apoptotic neuronal death induced by amyloid β and weakly inhibited cholinesterase activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous historical references describe the use of mistletoe for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. In recent years, studies have started to confirm the antiepileptic, antipsychotic, sedative and antinociceptive effects of mistletoe. Additionally, mistletoe can be used as a complementary treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The therapeutic effect of mistletoe might be a result of the synergistic interactions of various secondary metabolites, including mistletoe-specific lectins. Further studies of the chemical composition and CNS activity of mistletoe are required. The mechanisms of action, target sites, pharmacokinetics, metabolic mechanisms, adverse effects and interactions of mistletoe with other drugs must also be investigated, as well.

Antipyretic effect of phytol, possibly via 5KIR-dependent COX-2 inhibition pathway

AIMS

This study is aimed at the evaluation of antipyretic effect of PHY in yeast-induced hyperthermia rats. Additionally, possible mechanism of antipyretic action of PHY has been also studied by molecular docking study.

METHODS

Adult male Wistar albino rats were treated with PHY at 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg in 0.05% Tween-80 dissolved in 0.9% NaCl solution. PHY was also given at 200 mg/kg with ibuprofen (IBU) 12.5 mg/kg (p.o.) or paracetamol (PARA) 100 mg/kg (p.o.) to see the combined effect of PHY in animals. In silico study of PHY was performed against cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes (COX-1 and -2) proteins.

RESULTS

PHY exhibited the antipyretic effect in febrile rats in a dose and time dependent manner. PHY 200 mg/kg co-treated with IBU12.5 or PARA100 exhibited greater antipyretic effect than the PHY or NSAIDs individual groups. Data from the computational study reveal that 5KIR of COX-2 is the most efficient receptor protein to which PHY interacts.

CONCLUSION

PHY attributed an antipyretic effect, possibly via 5KIR-dependent COX-2 inhibition pathway.

Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution Study of Ferruginol in Wistar Rat by High-performance Liquid Chromatography

Background:

Ferruginol (FRGN) exhibits a broad range of pharmacological properties which make it a promising candidate for chemoprevention. However, little is known about its absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties.

Methods:

A rapid, sensitive and specific HPLC-DAD method was established to quantify FRGN in the plasma and tissues of Wistar rats. After extraction of FRGN with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), chromatographic separation was performed on a YMC ODS C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-water (92:8, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. Detection was conducted with a wavelength of 273 nm at 25 °C.

Results:

The calibration curves for FRGN were linear in the concentration range of 0.5-20 µg/mL for plasma, 0.5-10 µg/mL for heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, stomach, intestine, brain and muscle. After three cycles of freezing and thawing, the concentration variations were within ± 7% of nominal concentrations, indicating no significant substance loss during repeated thawing and freezing. The assay was applied to pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution study in rats. Results suggested that lung, heart, liver, spleen and kidney were the major distribution tissues of FRGN in rats, and FRGN could permeate the blood-brain barrier to distribute in the brain of rats.

Conclusion:

The information provided by this research is very useful for gaining knowledge of the pharmacokinetic process and tissue distribution of FRGN.

Anticonvulsant effects of Senna spectabilis on seizures induced by chemicals and maximal electroshock

Senna spectabilis (Fabaceae) is one of the medicinal plants used in Cameroon by traditional healers to treat epilepsy, constipation, insomnia, anxiety. The present study aimed to investigate the anticonvulsant effects of Senna spectabilis decoction on seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), pilocarpine (PC) and its possible action mechanisms in animal models using flumazenil (FLU), methyl-ß-carboline-3-carboxylate (BC) and bicuculline (BIC). Senna spectabilis decoction (106.5 and 213.0mg/kg) antagonized completely tonic-clonic hind limbs of mice induced by MES. The lowest plant dose (42.6mg/kg) provided 100% of protection against seizures induced by PTZ (70mg/kg). Administration of different doses of the plant decoction antagonized seizures induced by PC up to 75%, causing a dose dependent protection and reduced significantly the mortality rate induced by this convulsant. Both FLU and BC antagonize strongly the anticonvulsant effects of this plant and are unable to reverse totally diazepam or the plant decoction effects on inhibiting seizures. The animals did not present any sign of acute toxicity even at higher doses of the plant decoction. In conclusion, Senna spectabilis possesses an anticonvulsant activity. We showed that its decoction protects significantly mice against seizures induced by chemicals and MES, delays the onset time and reduces mortality rate in seizures-induced. It also appears that the oral administration of the decoction of S. spectabilis is more active than the intraperitoneal administration of the ethanolic extract on inhibiting seizures induced by MES and PTZ. Moreover, the plant decoction could interact with GABA_A complex receptor probably on the GABA and benzodiazepines sites.

Recent Advances in Antiepileptic Herbal Medicine

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide, with about 80 percent of cases thought to be in developing nations where it is mostly linked to superstition. The limited supply, high cost as well as low efficacy and adverse side effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is a matter of major concern. Herbal medicine has always been traditionally part of treatment of epilepsy. Herbal medicines are generally well tolerated, with fewer side effects.

METHOD

To highlight some herbal extracts that have been studied for their anticonvulsant activity in animal models, literature search from PubMed and Science Direct, was performed. The keywords for the search consisted of combinations of the following terms: Herbal antiepileptic and/or anticonvulsant, botanicals + epilepsy. Literature published in the last five years was considered.

RESULTS

Eighteen (18) anticonvulsant herbal agents are reported and discussed. Experiments mostly consisted of phenotypic screens in rodents, with little diversity in screening methods. In most experiments, the tested extracts prolonged the time to onset of seizures and decreased their duration. Most experimenters implicate potentiation of GABAergic activity as the mode of action of the extracts, even though some experimenters did not fully characterise the bioactive chemical composition of their extracts.

CONCLUSION

Potential herbal remedies have shown positive results in animal models. It remains unclear how many make it into clinical trials and eventually making part of the AED list. More rigorous research, applying strict research methodology with uniform herbal combinations, as well as clinical studies are urgently needed.

Anticholinesterase and antioxidant potentials of Nonea micrantha Bioss. & Reut along with GC-MS analysis

BACKGROUND

Nonea micrantha Boiss. & Reut . being an unexplored member of Boraginaceae was investigated for GC/MS analysis, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities in an attempt to find its effectiveness in neurological disorders.

METHODS

The AChE and BChE inhibitory activities of crude methanolic extract (Nm.Cr), subsequent fractions; n-hexane (Nm.Hex), chloroform (Nm.Cf), ethyl acetate (Nm.EtAc), aqueous (Nm.Aq) and crude saponins (Nm.Sp) from N. micrantha were conducted using Ellman's assay. The antioxidant activity of the plant samples using DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging potential following quantitative spectrophotometric and qualitative TLC method were also studied. Moreover the total reducing power (TRP) of all the samples was also figured out.

RESULTS

The GC/Ms analysis confirmed that the plant is rich in bioactive molecules. Among different fractions, Nm.Hex, Nm.EtAc and Nm.Cf exhibited highest AChE inhibitory activities causing 75.51 ± 0.73, 68.54 ± 0.59 and 63.48 ± 0.59% enzyme inhibition respectively and IC50 of 44, 100 and 144 μg/mL respectively. In BChE inhibiton assay, Nm.Aq, Nm.Sp and Nm.Cr showed highest activity causing 83.49 ± 0.27, 81.49 ± 0.89 and 75.31 ± 0.56% enzyme inhibition with IC50 of 90, 110 and 44 μg/mL respectively. In DPPH assay, Nm.Aq, Nm.Cf, Nm.Hex and Nm.Cr were most potent exhibiting IC50 values of 3, 5, 93 and 120 μg/ml respectively. In ABTS assay Nm.EtAc, Nm.Aq, Nm.Sp and Nm.Cr showed IC50 values of 60, 95, 100 and 150 μg/mL respectively. Likewise ABTS inhibition was most prominent for Nm.Sp, Nm.EtAc and Nm.Aq causing 78.26 ± 0.49, 67.67 ± 0.73 and 63.58 ± 0.45% inhibition respectively at 1 mg/mL. These results were further confirmed by qualitative screening using DPPH and ABTS staining.

CONCLUSIONS

Our anticholinesterase and antioxidant results signify the N. micrantha as a potential source of natural bioactive compounds. Moreover isolation of natural bioactive compounds from this plant may lead to novel drug candidates against neurodegenerative disorders.

Phytol-loaded PLGA nanoparticle as a modulator of Alzheimer's toxic Aβ peptide aggregation and fibrillation associated with impaired neuronal cell function

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an unfavourable neurological condition of the brain leading to the loss of behavioural and cognitive skills of the aging population. At present, drugs representing cholinesterase inhibitors provide lateral side effects to AD patients. Hence, there is a need for improved fabrication of drugs without side effects, for which nanoencapsulated bioactive compounds that can cross the blood-brain barrier offer new hope as novel alternative treatment strategy for AD. This study involved synthesis of phytol loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles by solvent evaporation method. Physico-chemical characterization of phytol-PLGA NPs through the field emission scanning electron microscope, dynamic laser scattering (DLS) measurement revealed that the particles were nanosize range with smooth surface and spherical morphology. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of drug/polymer ratio was investigated by power X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) analysis. The in vitro drug release study showed that the phytol was released in a sustained manner. Moreover, phytol-PLGA NPs were able to disrupt amyloid aggregates, exhibit anti-cholinesterase and anti-oxidative property and are non-cytotoxic in Neuro2a cells.

Effect of Naringenin (A naturally occurring flavanone) Against Pilocarpine-induced Status Epilepticus and Oxidative Stress in Mice

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by recurrent seizures. It is a very common disease in which approximately 30% of patients do not respond favourably to treatment with anticonvulsants. Oxidative stress is associated with neuronal damage arising from epileptic seizures. The present study investigated the effects of naringenin in pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in mice. Naringenin, one of the most frequently occurring flavanone in citrus fruits, was evaluated for its shielding effect against the pilocarpine induced behavioural, oxidative and histopathological alterations in rodent model of epilepsy.

METHODOLOGY

Epilepsy was induced by giving pilocarpine (300mg/kg) and sodium valproate (300mg/kg) was given as standard anti-epileptic drug Pilocarpine was administered (300 mg /kg body weight) intraperitoneally to the mice on 15th day while naringenin was administered orally (20 and 40 mg/kg body weight) for 15 days prior to administration of pilocarpine.

RESULTS

The intraperitoneal administration of pilocarpine enhanced lipid peroxidation, caused reduction in antioxidant enzymes, viz., catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase. Treatment of mice orally with naringenin (20 mg/kg body weight and 40 mg/kg body weight) resulted in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation. There was significant recovery of glutathione content and all the antioxidant enzymes studied. Also in case of behavioural parameters studied, naringenin showed decrease in seizure severity. All these changes were supported by histological observations, which revealed excellent improvement in neuronal damage.

CONCLUSION

The higher dose of naringenin was more potent in our study and was comparable to the standard drug (sodium valproate) in effectiveness.

SUMMARY

Naringenin ameliorated the development of ROS formation in hippocamus.Naringenin helped in recovery of antioxidant enzymes.Naringenin decreased seizure severity.Naringenin treatment reduced lipid peroxidation. Abbreviations used: 6-OHDA: 6-hydroxydopamine, AED: Anti epileptic drugs, AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, ANOVA: Analysis of variance, ATP: Adenosine triphosphate, CA: Cornu ammonis, CAT: Catalase, DG: Dentate gyrus, EDTA: Ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid, GR: Glutathione reductase, GSH: Glutathione reduced, HCl: Hydrochloric acid, IL-1β: Interleukin 1 beta, LPO: Lipid peroxidation, MDA: Malondialdehyde, NADPH: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, PMS: post mitochondrial supernatant, SE: Status epilepticus, SEM: Standard error of the mean, SOD Superoxide dismutase, TBA: Thiobarbituric acid, TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, TLE: Temporal lobe epilepsy, TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Effect of Naringenin (A naturally occurring flavanone) Against Pilocarpine-induced Status Epilepticus and Oxidative Stress in Mice

Background:

Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by recurrent seizures. It is a very common disease in which approximately 30% of patients do not respond favourably to treatment with anticonvulsants. Oxidative stress is associated with neuronal damage arising from epileptic seizures. The present study investigated the effects of naringenin in pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in mice. Naringenin, one of the most frequently occurring flavanone in citrus fruits, was evaluated for its shielding effect against the pilocarpine induced behavioural, oxidative and histopathological alterations in rodent model of epilepsy.

Methodology:

Epilepsy was induced by giving pilocarpine (300mg/kg) and sodium valproate (300mg/kg) was given as standard anti-epileptic drug Pilocarpine was administered (300 mg /kg body weight) intraperitoneally to the mice on 15th day while naringenin was administered orally (20 and 40 mg/kg body weight) for 15 days prior to administration of pilocarpine.

Results:

The intraperitoneal administration of pilocarpine enhanced lipid peroxidation, caused reduction in antioxidant enzymes, viz., catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase. Treatment of mice orally with naringenin (20 mg/kg body weight and 40 mg/kg body weight) resulted in a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation. There was significant recovery of glutathione content and all the antioxidant enzymes studied. Also in case of behavioural parameters studied, naringenin showed decrease in seizure severity. All these changes were supported by histological observations, which revealed excellent improvement in neuronal damage.

Conclusion:

The higher dose of naringenin was more potent in our study and was comparable to the standard drug (sodium valproate) in effectiveness.

SUMMARY

Naringenin ameliorated the development of ROS formation in hippocamus.

Naringenin helped in recovery of antioxidant enzymes.

Naringenin decreased seizure severity.

Naringenin treatment reduced lipid peroxidation.

Abbreviations used: 6-OHDA: 6-hydroxydopamine, AED: Anti epileptic drugs, AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, ANOVA: Analysis of variance, ATP: Adenosine triphosphate, CA: Cornu ammonis, CAT: Catalase, DG: Dentate gyrus, EDTA: Ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid, GR: Glutathione reductase, GSH: Glutathione reduced, HCl: Hydrochloric acid, IL-1β: Interleukin 1 beta, LPO: Lipid peroxidation, MDA: Malondialdehyde, NADPH: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, PMS: post mitochondrial supernatant, SE: Status epilepticus, SEM: Standard error of the mean, SOD Superoxide dismutase, TBA: Thiobarbituric acid, TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, TLE: Temporal lobe epilepsy, TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor alpha

Behavioral and genotoxic evaluation of rosmarinic and caffeic acid in acute seizure models induced by pentylenetetrazole and pilocarpine in mice

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) and caffeic acid (CA) in the acute pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and pilocarpine (PIL) seizure models. We also evaluated the effect of RA and CA on the diazepam (DZP)-induced sleeping time test and its possible neuroprotective effect against the genotoxic damage induced by PTZ and PIL. Mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with saline, RA (2 or 4 mg/kg), or CA (4 or 8 mg/kg) alone or associated to low-dose DZP. After, mice received a single dose of PTZ (88 mg/kg) or PIL (250 mg/kg) and were monitored for the percentage of seizures and the latency to first seizure (LFS) >3 s. Vigabatrin and DZP were used as positive controls. In the DZP-induced sleeping time test, mice were treated with RA and CA and 30 min after receiving DZP (25 mg/kg, i.p.). The alkaline comet assay was performed after acute seizure tests to evaluate the antigenotoxic profiles of RA and CA. The doses of RA and CA tested alone did not reduce the occurrence of seizures induced by PTZ or PIL. The association of 4 mg/kg RA + low-dose DZP was shown to increase LFS in the PTZ model, compared to the group that received only the DZP. In the DZP-induced sleeping time test, the latency to sleep was reduced by 4 mg/kg RA and 8 mg/kg CA. The PTZ-induced genotoxic damage was not prevented by RA or CA, but the PIL-induced genotoxic damage was decreased by pretreatment with 4 mg/kg RA (in cortex) and 4 mg/kg CA (in hippocampus). In conclusion, RA and CA presented neuroprotective effect against PIL-induced genotoxic damage and reduced the latency to DZP-induced sleep. Of the rosmarinic acid, 4 mg/kg enhanced the DZP effect in the increase of latency to clonic PTZ-induced seizures.

Neuroprotective effect of the marine macroalga Gelidiella acerosa: identification of active compounds through bioactivity-guided fractionation

Context Gelidiella acerosa (Forsskål) Feldmann & G. Hamel (Rhodophyta-Gelidiales) is a marine red macroalga. Our previous work found that a benzene extract of G. acerosa possesses noticeable neuroprotective activity, when evaluated through in vitro and in vivo systems. Objective Bioactive-guided fractionation and identification of active compounds by column chromatography using solvents of varying polarity. Materials and methods Fractionation was done by column chromatography, antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity was assessed by DPPH and cholinesterase inhibition assays (50-200 μg/ml), compound identification was done by LC-MS analysis, the mode of interaction of active compound was analyzed through docking studies and quantification was done by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis. Results The results suggest that fractions F9-F13 exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities. Hence, these fractions were pooled together and verified for neuroprotective activity. The pooled fraction was subjected to LC-MS analysis and among all the compounds, phytol was previously reported to possess excellent neuroprotective potential. Hence, the neuroprotective potential of phytol was assessed. The results suggest that phytol showed significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activities (25-125 μg/ml) with an IC50 value of 95.27 ± 1.65 μg/ml and cholinesterase inhibitory potential (5-25 μg/ml) with IC50 values of 2.704 ± 0.07 and 5.798 ± 0.72 μg/ml for AChE and BuChE, respectively. Molecular docking studies suggest that phytol interacts with cholinesterase through the arginine residue of the enzyme. HPTLC quantification showed that about 6.266 μg of phytol was present per mg of pooled fraction. Conclusion The study suggests that phytol might act as the key compound in contributing to the neuroprotective potential of G. acerosa.

Neuroprotective effect of nerolidol against neuroinflammation and oxidative stress induced by rotenone

Background

Parkinson disease (PD) is a movement disorder affecting 1 % of people over the age of 60. The etiology of the disease is unknown; however, accumulating evidence suggests that mitochondrial defects, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation play important roles in developing the disease. Current medications for PD can only improve its symptoms, but are unable to halt its progressive nature. Although many therapeutic approaches are available, new drugs are urgently needed for the treatment of PD. Thus, the present study was undertaken to investigate the neuroprotective potential of nerolidol, a sesquiterpene alcohol, on a rotenone-induced experimental model of PD, where male Wistar rats intraperitoneally received rotenone (ROT) at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight once daily for 4 weeks.

Results

Nerolidol, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, was injected intraperitoneally at 50 mg/kg of body weight, once daily for 4 weeks, and at 30 min prior to ROT administration. ROT administration significantly reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the level of the antioxidant tripeptide glutathione (GSH). Moreover, ROT increased the levels of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), and inflammatory mediators (COX-2 and iNOS) in rat brain tissues. Immunostaining of brain tissue sections revealed a significant increase in the number of activated astrocytes (GFAP) and microglia (Iba-1), along with the concomitant loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and dopaminergic nerve fibers in the striatum of ROT-treated rats. As expected, nerolidol supplementation to ROT-injected rats significantly increased the level of SOD, CAT, and GSH, and decreased the level of MDA. Nerolidol also inhibited the release of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators. Finally, nerolidol treatment prevented ROT-induced glial cell activation and the loss of dopaminergic neurons and nerve fibers, and ultimately attenuated ROT-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

Conclusion

Our findings are the first to show that the neuroprotective effect of nerolidol is mediated through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which strongly supports its therapeutic potential for the treatment of PD.

Therapeutic Potential of Essential Oils Focusing on Diterpenes

Among all plant derivates, essential oils (EOs) have gained the attention of many scientists. Diterpenes, a family of components present in some EO, are becoming a milestone in the EOs world. The goal of this review is to describe a scenario of diterpenes taking into health-consumption deportment. Previous studies revealed that diterpenes have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, cytotoxic, anticancer, antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, chemopreventive, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, immunostimulatory, organoprotective, antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, antiallergic, antiplatelet, antithrombotic, and antitoxin activities. In conclusion, diterpenes may be an immense featuring concern in pharmaceutical consumption from a drug discovery point of view. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Antinociceptive and neuropharmacological activities of methanol extract of Phoenix sylvestris fruit pulp

Fruits of Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. (Arecaceae) are used to treat back pain, toothache, headache, arthritis, nervous debility and as sedative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and neuropharmacological activities of methanol extract of P. sylvestris fruit pulp (MEPS). The antinociceptive activity of MEPS was evaluated by heat-induced (hot plate, tail immersion test) and chemical-induced pain models (acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced nociception, glutamate-induced nociception and paw edema test). The effect of MEPS on central nervous system (CNS) was studied using hole cross test, open field test, sodium thiopental-induced sleeping time and elevated plus maze test. MEPS showed strong, significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in all heat-induced and chemical-induced pain models at all experimental doses. Involvement of opioid receptor mediated analgesia was evident from the reversal of analgesic effect by naloxone. MEPS also showed reduced locomotor activity in both hole cross and open field tests. The increase in sleeping time in sodium thiopental-induced sleeping test and anxiolytic activity in elevated plus maze test were also significant. So, it is evident that MEPS possesses strong central and peripheral antinociceptive activity as well as CNS depressant, sedative and anxiolytic activity. The results justify the ethnomedicinal use of P. sylvestris fruit in different painful conditions and CNS disorders.

The effect of the phytol-rich fraction from Lacistema pubescens against Leishmania amazonensis is mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction

Leishmaniasis is a complex disease caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania and the treatment remains a serious problem since the available drugs exhibited high toxicity and side effects. Plant-derived natural products are promising leads for the development of novel chemotherapeutics. In this work the phytol-rich hexane fraction (PRF) from the leaves of Lacistema pubescens was obtained and identified by GC-MS analysis. When assayed for antileishmanial effects, PRF was active against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (IC50 values of 44.0 and 25.8 μg/mL respectively). Furthermore, PRF did not show significant cytotoxicity on peritoneal macrophages being more destructive to the intracellular parasite than to mammalian cells. In addition, possible targets of PRF were investigated against L. amazonensis promastigotes. The results showed that PRF exerted its antipromastigote activity by marked depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential followed by the increase of ROS levels in L. amazonensis promastigotes. During these events, no rupture of the cell membrane integrity was observed. Our results indicated that PRF was effective and selective against L. amazonensis, and that this effect was mainly mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction associated to ROS production.

In vivo evaluation of anticonvulsant and antioxidant effects of phenobarbital microemulsion for transdermal administration in pilocarpine seizure rat model

This study aimed to evaluate a microemulsion system (ME) containing phenobarbital in epilepsy model induced by pilocarpine in rats and to oxidative stress and histologic lesions in hippocampus. The microemulsion was applied to the shaved back of Wistar rats. The animals were divided into the following groups: control group (P400); ME50 40mg/kg, topically-t.p.; ME100, 40mg/kg, t.p.; EM50, 40mg/kg, t.p.; phenobarbital solution 40mg/kg (PS), oral. After 60min, behavioral changes were evaluated for 1h in the model of epileptical crisis induced by pilocarpine. Phenobarbital in microemulsion was able to increase the latency for status epilepticus (SE) (p<0.05), decrease the number of epileptical crisis (ME50: p<0.001; ME100: p<0.01) and decrease mortality rate by 80% compared to P400. In EM50 and PS groups, deaths were decreased by 53.3% and 100% respectively. The ME50 and ME100 groups were able to reduce oxidative stress in experimental animals when compared to the P400. The microemulsion was still capable of reducing neuronal damage in the hippocampal areas. The results of this study come in an innovative way, demonstrating the ability of transdermal ME50 and ME100 to reduce pilocarpine-induced epileptical crisis, oxidative stress, besides neuronal damages.